Jaeger-LeCoultre

I’m looking to pick up a JLC to complement the Ladies Squadra Duetto I bought my wife:

 

 

I do realize that it will always come down to my personal taste but I nonetheless wanted to tap the insights of JLC owners on what they would get if they already had the following in their collection:

 

-         Lange Dato PT

-         GO Senator Per Cal PT

-         Patek 5056 PT Annual Cal

-         Chopard LUC Regulateur PG

-         UN Michaelangelo UTC SS

-         Coming to vintage Rolex Oyster SS

-         Coming to vintage Omega Constellation YG

 

I have for a long time and even before I knew about watch collecting, always been interested in the Reverso and it almost epitomizes JLC for me but JLC has come out with some really exquisite pieces in the Triptyque, Gyro and Hybris, all of which are too large for me and way out of my budget.  So although I have this affinity for the reverses, I don’t want that to jaundice my thoughts on the first JLC to get.

 

The 2 JLCs that are interesting to me now are the Reverso Grande GMT PG and Grande Date PG (I like the movement on this) and the 175^th Anniversary Master Perpetual Squelette.  I know they are way apart in terms of price and complication.  I’ve only ben able to get the Grande GMT PG on my wrist so far and I prefer it to the Grande Sun Moon for reasons I don’t understand.  I was also thinking of maybe the original Reverso Sun Moon in PG but don;t quite like how the movement looks.

 

I would like something that is more dressy and hence PG (besides, I think JLC’s shade of PG is one of the best in the industry) again to complement my wife’s piece.

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Both have their interest.

Among the Reversos you quoted, I'd say that the Grande Date PG would fit the bill.

The simple, clean and pure dial is to die for in PG.

The movement is nice, and the 8 Days complication is really friendly.

When I see the list of the watches you already own, I think that this would be the one for you.

BUT, there is another option, the round watch.

The price is another league, but it corresponds to the finish, and to the complication.

The Eights Days perpetual skeleton in RG is a pure marvel.

I wrote quite a lot about it, so if you do a quick search on it here, you will understnad why I love this watch so much.

To sum it in a very few words, this watch is the meeting between Horology and Art.

Keep us updated, please!

Best,

Nicolas

and while it is on the other end of the price scale, at least it is not at the extreme end where the Hybris, Gyros sit.

You will certainly be madly in love with it, as well as I am with mine!

Therefore, you don't have a perpetual calendar in your collection, and this one, with its 8 days power reserve, and its complete calendar, is a superb choice.

Best,

Nicolas

the Senator Per cal or any per cal for that atter that doesn;t reflect the year as a "complete" per cal.  I haven't been fortunate to try this magnificent piece on my wrist but understand that it wears big.  I tried the Duometre (very very very nice chrono btw) and that was way too big for me.  The edge of the case was hanging off my wrist but I see your wrist scan in the wrist scan section and it looks great on you.

But I digress, I will get the 8 day Squelette on my wrist in due course and reserve judgement on how it wear till then.

With its reasonnable size and thickness, that is not a difficult wat to wear.

But the most important with the wrist test is that it will immediately tell you if this is a watch for you.

You will see if it sings very loud to you!

Best,

Nicolas

Price consideration aside, this is by far one of the most beautiful pieces made by JLC...

As you say it is a personal matter, but in this kind of decision making I also like and enjoy to invite the views of others - and here are mine:

I personally love the master eight day perpetual. But I must say that I perfer it in Pt as I feel that the way JLC has "squeletonised" this watch is rather unsusual and has a certain modern and technological look which IMO is better accompanied by a non-coloured metal (Pt being the only option no? I think Ti would be great though!).

I completely agree with you that the PG of JLC is very nice and if you are looking for a dress watch to complement your wifes exquisite squadra I think a PG Grande Date is spot on (If you can pull of the size that is - I can't and chose to go with a GT size). I very much like the Grande GMT too, but as a dress watch, it think it is less suited and I get the feeling that you prefer to be able to view the movement.

I feel that the reverso would blend perfectly into your already impressive collection - but maybe the master would be a more interesting newcomer.

I realise that there is an apparent lack of guidance in the above. They are just my views and I hope you can use them in your decision making.

Whatever you choose, I envy you

Nikolaj

I usually start my start months in advance of the actual decision and purchase hence this thread to start my JLC ball rolling.

I do agree with you on the Grande Date being more formal than the GMT but maybe not so on the size comment but to each his own.  I have very small wrists but have tried on the Grande cases and they wear well but again, to each his own.

As for the 8 day Squelette, I tend to like the PG (not just for the shade) but perhaps it has a more formal look to it which I tend to like for Per Cals.  I do agree that the PT (my favorite metal btw) would give it a more modern, hi tech look but I am saving that look for another piece (have you seenthe WG/Ti MB&F HM2?)

That is hi tech for sure! Different and nice!

What I personally could not accomodate with the Reverso Grande was the height. But I do have exeptionally small wrists and at some point in time started to develop an anti-reaction to the ever increasing sizes of watches which may not be very rational. There are many happy owners of reverso grandes here and all their wrist shots look magnificent, so do not put too much weight to my points on this particular issue

Admittedly, the RG in combination with the greyish movement parts of the Master 8 days Perp SQ looks very good. I guess that I just do not see this model as a particular dress watch and hence prefer it in a white metal. Again that is just me. I think that JLC with this model has re-thought the squelleton theme in a very successful way, and to have it - in any metal - would make me happy as Pamfilius!

HAGWE

Nikolaj

 

 

Congrats!

Now that is a spectacular watch.

Best,

Nicolas

I don't own the Singapore Mint LOL.

But as i do take some time to decide, the HM2 is on my shortlist but I'm moving more actively on the Freak 1.0 for now.

hi Arthur,

i think since you do not have rentangular watch, going for JLC Reverso will be the right choice and it would match your wife's watch nicely.

few weeks ago, i went to AD to try both reverso grande date and reverso grande GMT on my wrist. both watches in fact are very nice one, but as you said GMT is slightly bigger for our small wrist. grande date is just perfect for us.

cheers,

stefan 

 

I thought they were the same size... well, it's the weekend so I guess I'll pay the AD a visit.  And yes, the rectangular shape watch is something I do not have nor one that flips

play a visit to AD during the weekend is excellent idea.

as Kong said, try the watches several times, and choose the one which is calling you after that.

by the way, i see the report that you went to the L'Atelier's openning. looks like a good event.

have good watch hunting in the coming weekend.

stefan 

Sometimes I think the ADs wonder if I am trying their patience but hey... I work hard for my money and I want to be sure when I pull the trigger

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...then it is difficult to go past this magnificent Reverso, rendered here in all its beauty by the extraordinary photography of SteveG:

 

 

[photos re-posted without permission but with immense admiration Thanks Steve.]

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

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ths together with the Septantieme (spelling?) and Reverso Tourbillon also look good to me.

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you know you want to ....    ;-)

 

Cheers,

pplater.

are not a good influence.

Arthur

...that is what friends are for!

;-)

 

Cheers,

pplater.